Figure Skating Boot with Flexing Upper Cuff

ABSTRACT

A figure skating boot has a boot body formed of a structural, monocoque material including a sole portion, inner and outer side wall portions, and ankle portions for receiving a user foot therein. Lower mounting surfaces at a bottom of the boot body support the lower mounting frame of a skate blade thereon. An upper cuff member formed of a material which is less rigid than the monocoque material of the boot body is supported on the boot body such that a rear portion is fixed to the heel end of the boot body and side portions extend forwardly from the rear portion at opposing sides of the boot body to partly overlap the ankle portions. One or more fastening anchors on each side portion allow the cuff member to be fastened about the lower leg of the user while allow some flexing movement relative to the boot body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a figure skating boot for supporting the foot of a user relative to a lower mounting frame, for example an ice blade holding frame or a wheel holding frame, having a monocoque structure, and more particularly the present invention relates to a skating boot having a monocoque structure and a separately formed upper cuff supported for flexing movement relative to the monocoque structure.

BACKGROUND

Conventional construction of a figure skating boot comprises a wooden or leather sole member incorporating a heel structure therein with a leather upper connected above the wooden sole member to receive the foot of the user therein. A lower mounting frame incorporating a skate blade therein is then fastened to the sole member at the toe end thereof and to the bottom of the heel structure. Some flexing of the upper is typically required to allow extension of the foot of the user, for example when the figure skater performs jumps during a figure skating routine. The upper of the figure skate that receives the foot of the user therein is typically formed of a uniform material having a substantially constant stiffness throughout. The upper is initially quite stiff to provide sufficient supporting structure to support the foot relative to the sole member, however, any flexing of the upper is only achieved by extended use of the figure skate to gradually introduce flexibility into the upper by “breaking in” the upper in a manner which causes considerable discomfort to the figure skater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein and for use with a lower mounting frame, the figure skating boot comprising:

a sole portion extending longitudinally rearward from a toe end of the boot towards a heel end of the boot so as to be arranged to support at least part of the foot of the user thereon;

an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween;

a heel cup portion comprising an upright wall in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions at the heel end so as to be arranged to receive a heel of the foot of the user therein;

two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup, being joined to one another across the heel end of the boot above the heel cup portion, and extending forwardly to respective forward edges which are laterally spaced apart at opposing sides of an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween such that the two ankle portions are arranged to span over respective ankles of the foot of the user;

the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions comprising a unitary, monocoque structure integrally formed of a rigid, structural, monocoque material defining a boot body;

the boot body having one or more lower mounting surfaces at a bottom side thereof in which the one or more lower mounting surfaces are arranged to support the lower mounting frame mounted thereon; and

an upper cuff member comprising:

a rear portion coupled in fixed relation to the boot body at the heel end;

a pair of side portions extending forwardly from the rear portion at laterally opposing sides of the boot body so as to at least partly overlap the ankle portions respectively;

at least one fastening anchor supported on each side portion so as to be arranged to receive a fastening member secured thereon;

the upper cuff member being formed of a cuff material which is less rigid than the monocoque material of the boot body.

The arrangement of a monocoque boot body and an upper cuff member that is less rigid than the monocoque boot body combines the advantages of adequately securing the foot relative to the footbed of the skate, while enabling some flexing of the ankle as required for jumps in the sport of figure skating.

Preferably the monocoque material defining the boot body has a hardness which is greater than 72 on the Shore D hardness scale and the cuff material forming the upper cuff member has a hardness which is less than 72 on the Shore D hardness scale.

Preferably at least one embedded anchor is embedded into the cuff material on each side portion of the upper cuff member in which said at least one fastening anchor is coupled to said at least one embedded anchor on each side portion of the upper cuff member.

The side portions of the upper cuff member preferably protrude forwardly beyond the forward edges of the two ankle portions such that the upper portion of the tongue opening is defined between respective forward edges of the side portions of the upper cuff member.

An upper edge of the upper cuff member may be aligned with an upper edge of the two ankle portions about an upper leg opening of the boot for receiving a leg of the user therethrough.

When a first coupling arrangement is used to join the rear portion of the upper cuff member to the boot body at the heel end and a second coupling arrangement is used to joining the side portions of the upper cuff member to the ankle portions of the boot body, the second coupling arrangement between the side portions of the upper cuff member and the boot body preferably allows greater movement than the first coupling arrangement between the rear portion of the upper cuff member and the boot body. For example, a ledge may be formed at the heel end of the boot body receiving a bottom edge of the upper cuff member abutted thereon while the side portions of the upper cuff member are not inhibited by any protruding structure at the ankle portions of the boot body.

Preferably an adhesive joins at least the side portions of the upper cuff member to the ankle portions of the boot body. The rear portion of the upper cuff member may also be joined to the boot body with adhesive, or an additional mechanical fastener may be provided to ensure that the rear portion of the upper cuff member is fixed immovably to the boot body at a location spaced above the heel cup portion of the boot body.

A bonding layer formed of a flexible material may be provided so as to span across a junction between the upper cuff member, while being joined to an exterior surface of the upper cuff member and an exterior surface of at least one of the ankle portions. The bonding layer may be formed of two separate bonding panels coupled to the two ankle portions respectively. Preferably the bonding layer/panels extend over the forward edges of the two ankle portions and overlap respective interior surface portions of the boot body at the two ankle portions.

When additional finishing panels formed of an exterior finishing material are supported at an exterior of the boot body so as to define an exterior surface of the skating boot, the finishing panels preferably include at least one first finishing panel formed of a first material and at least one second finishing panel formed of a second material in which the at least one first finishing panel spans a majority of the exterior surface of the skating boot. Preferably said at least one second finishing panel spans over an exterior junction between the upper cuff member and the boot body, and the second material undergoes less permanent distortion in response to a prescribed deflection than the first material. This ensures that creasing of the finishing panels as a result of the flexing of the upper cuff member occurs at a seam between finishing panels.

The sole portion of the boot body may further comprise (i) a forward section arranged to support a forward portion of the foot of the user thereon and (ii) a heel section protruding downwardly from the forward panel so as to define a heel cavity within the heel section that is open to an interior of the boot body. In this instance, the skating boot preferably further comprises a heel member received within the heel cavity in the heel section of the boot body so as to be arranged to support a heel of the foot of the user thereon.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein and for use with a lower mounting frame, the figure skating boot comprising:

a sole portion extending longitudinally rearward from a toe end of the boot towards a heel end of the boot so as to be arranged to support at least part of the foot of the user thereon;

an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween;

a heel cup portion comprising an upright wall in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions at the heel end so as to be arranged to receive a heel of the foot of the user therein;

two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup, being joined to one another across the heel end of the boot above the heel cup portion, and extending forwardly to respective forward edges which are laterally spaced apart at opposing sides of an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween such that the two ankle portions are arranged to span over respective ankles of the foot of the user;

the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions collectively defining a boot body;

the boot body having one or more lower mounting surfaces at a bottom side thereof in which the one or more lower mounting surfaces are arranged to support the lower mounting frame mounted thereon;

a tongue member connected to the boot body at a forward end of the tongue opening so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly towards a top end of the boot while spanning a width of the tongue opening; and

a plurality of lace guides protruding forwardly from a leading face of the tongue member so as to define one or more channels arranged to receive the laces therethrough so as to anchor the tongue member relative to the laces;

the lace guides being joined to a common base member connected to the tongue member.

Preferably two of the lace guides are laterally spaced apart from one another and each lace guide is tapered to be reduced in height from an outer side to an inner side of the lace guide in a lateral direction so as to be arranged to receive criss-crossing portions of the laces therebetween.

Preferably the lace guides and the base member are molded of a common moldable plastic material such that the lace guides and the base member define a continuous, seamless, unitary body.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lace guides include two first guides which are laterally spaced apart from one another and a second guide spaced vertically from the first guides in a triangular pattern so as to be arranged to locate the lace guides vertically and laterally relative to the laces.

The base member may be elongate and formed of a stiffener material which is more resistant to bending than the tongue member, wherein the base member is connected to the tongue member to extend along part of the tongue opening at a location spaced rearwardly from the forward end of the tongue opening.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein and for use with a lower mounting frame, the figure skating boot comprising:

a sole portion extending longitudinally rearward from a toe end of the boot towards a heel end of the boot so as to be arranged to support at least part of the foot of the user thereon;

an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween;

a heel cup portion comprising an upright wall in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions at the heel end so as to be arranged to receive a heel of the foot of the user therein;

two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup, being joined to one another across the heel end of the boot above the heel cup portion, and extending forwardly to respective forward edges which are laterally spaced apart at opposing sides of an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween such that the two ankle portions are arranged to span over respective ankles of the foot of the user;

the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions collectively defining a boot body;

the boot body having one or more lower mounting surfaces at a bottom side thereof in which the one or more lower mounting surfaces are arranged to support the lower mounting frame mounted thereon;

a tongue member connected to the boot body at a forward end of the tongue opening so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly towards a top end of the boot while spanning a width of the tongue opening; and

a tongue stiffener connected to the tongue member and being formed of a stiffener material which is more resistant to bending than the tongue member;

the tongue stiffener extending along a majority of the lower portion of the tongue opening in the skating boot; and

the tongue stiffener including a catch formed thereon adjacent a forward end of the tongue stiffener, in which the catch is abutted with the boot body at the forward end of the tongue opening to prevent forward movement of the tongue stiffener relative to the boot body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the skate boot according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper cuff member supported on the monocoque boot body before the installation of a liner and exterior finishing panels;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the boot body and upper cuff member, further illustrating the placement of bonding panels across the junction between the upper cuff member and the boot body;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the boot body and upper cuff member supported thereon;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembled skate boot;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the assembled skate boot at the junction between the upper cuff member and the boot body;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lace guides supported on a base member prior to assembly into the tongue member of the skate boot;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one exemplary lacing pattern relative to the lace guides of FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stiffener member prior to assembly into the tongue member of the skate boot; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the stiffener member according to FIG. 9 .

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a figure skating boot generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The skating boot 10 is particularly suited for use with a lower mounting frame 12 of the type including an ice-skating blade 14 with a toe pick 16 formed at the front end thereof. The lower mounting frame 12 further includes a rear pedestal 18 extending upwardly from a rear portion of the blade for connection to a rear mounting plate 20 having fastener apertures therein to receive conventional mechanical fasteners for fastening to a bottom side of the skating boot 10. The lower mounting frame 12 also includes front pedestals 22 extending upwardly from longitudinally spaced positions at the front end of the blade for connection to a front mounting plate 24 also having fastener apertures therein to receive conventional mechanical fasteners for fastening to the bottom side of the skating boot 10.

The skating boot generally includes a boot body 30 in the form of a monocoque structure consisting of rigid, structural, monocoque material, for example reinforcing carbon fibres set in a resin matrix which is cured to form a resulting composite material, for example a hardness which is considerably greater than 72 on the Shore D hardness scale.

According to one embodiment of manufacturing the boot body 30, a foot last is initially provided, which may be a generic shape and size, or which may be custom manufactured according to the foot of a designated user. Wet composite material is then layered onto the foot last to fully span the foot last with the exception of a tongue opening and an upper leg opening through which the foot last is subsequently removed from the resulting boot body. The upper leg opening in the boot body 30 subsequently receives the leg of the user therethrough when the skate boot is worn.

The boot body 30 can alternatively be formed from a 2-piece negative cavity mold, wherein the uncured fibers are pressed against the interior mold cavity surface through internal bladder pressure and then cured with heat. Therefore, the surface of the mold cavity creates the outer shape of the boot body 30. This process is somewhat the reverse of the wet lay-up process described above which instead creates the inner shape of the boot body 30. Either process can be used to form the monocoque material and create the monocoque structure of the boot body.

Subsequent to the formation of the boot body 30, a resilient interior liner 34 is bonded to the interior walls of the boot body 30, and then a foot bed layer 40 comprised of a high-density EVA blend foam lines the bottom interior surface of the boot body and an insole layer 42 of low-density EVA foam is placed over the foot bed layer 40.

An outer cover 44 formed of finishing panels of a flexible material, for example leather or a synthetic material providing an aesthetic exterior covering layer over the boot body, fully spans most of the exterior surfaces of the boot body 30 with the exception of the bottom of the boot body.

The boot body 30 is a unitary, seamless, one-piece, integral body. The body includes a sole portion 50 in the form of a base plate extending longitudinally rearward from the toe end 52 towards the heel end 54 of the boot body for receiving the foot bed layer and the insole layer on the top side thereof which in turn supports the foot of the user thereon.

More particularly, the sole portion 50 includes a forward section 51 at the toe end of the boot and a heel section 53 at the heel end of the boot. The forward section 51 is a plate that spans the width of the bottom of the boot and extends rearward from the front end towards the rear end so as to be arranged to support a forward portion of the foot of the user thereon. The heel section 53 protrudes downwardly from a rear end of the forward section 51 so as to define a heel cavity 55 within the heel section that is open to an interior of the boot body.

The skating boot further includes a heel member 57 in the form of a vibration damping rigid foam block that is inserted into and received within the heel cavity in the heel section of the boot body after forming the boot body, so that the foam block fully occupies the heel cavity and thereby supports a heel portion of the foot of the user thereon. A heel plate 59 formed of a panel of structural material similar to the material of the boot body 30 spans the top side of the heel member 57 to enclose the top side of the heel cavity 55 subsequent to the manufacturing of the boot body 30. The heel plate 59 is supported within the boot body to extend continuously from the rear end of the forward section 51 of sole portion to form a continuous foot bed together with the forward section 51 from the toe end 52 to the heel end 54 of the skate boot.

The boot body further includes an inner side wall portion 56 and an outer side wall portion 58 which extend longitudinally along laterally opposing inner and outer sides of the boot body from the toe end 52 to the heel end 54 thereof. The side wall portions extend upwardly from the opposing sides of the sole portion to respective upper free edges 60 which define a lower portion 61 of the tongue opening of the boot body therebetween.

The boot body 30 further includes a toe cap 63 joined between the front ends of the inner and outer sidewalls 56 and 58 to extend upwardly from the toe end of the sole portion 50. The toe cap 63 includes a top panel 65 extending rearwardly from the front end of the boot body spaced above the sole portion to define a toe box cavity receiving toes of the user therein in use. The top panel 65 of the toe cap 63 terminates at a rear edge extending laterally between the upper edges 60 of the inner and outer sidewalls to define the forward end of the tongue opening in the skate boot.

A heel cup portion 62 of the boot body extends upwardly from the heel end of the sole portion 50 in a curved shape about the rear end of the boot body so as to be joined between the inner and outer side wall portions at the rear of the boot body.

A pair of ankle portions 64 of the boot body extend upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup in connection with the inner and outer side wall portions respectively. The ankle portions 64 are joined with one another at the rear of the boot body above the heel cup such that the ankle portions collectively form an upper cup extending about a rear portion of the circumference of the lower leg of the user (corresponding approximately to the Achilles heel region of the user) between opposing front free edges 66 of the ankle portions. More particularly, the ankle portions extend forwardly from the rear of the boot body to the front free edges 66 thereof located at opposing sides of an upper portion 67 of the tongue opening in the boot body. The upper portion of the tongue opening between the front free edges 66 is continuous with the lower portion of the tongue opening between the upper free edges of the inner and outer side wall portions 56 and 58 of the boot body. The upper free edges 60 of the side wall portions are curved upwardly at the rear ends thereof towards the ankle portions of the boot body. The front free edges 66 of the ankle portions are stepped rearward from the rear ends of the upper free edges 60 of the side wall portions.

The bottom side of the sole portion of the boot body defines a first mounting surface 70 at the forward section 51 adjacent the toe end 52 of the boot. The first mounting surface 70 is generally flat and suitable for receiving the front mounting plate 24 of the lower mounting frame supported externally thereon when fastening the lower mounting frame to the boot body. The first mounting surface 70 provides structural support to the front mounting plate either by direct abutment of the front mounting plate to the first mounting surface, or by mounting of the front mounting plate parallel to the first mounting surface with one or more additional structural layers, for example a resilient rubber pad 71, between the front mounting plate 24 of the lower mounting frame and the first mounting surface 70.

The structural material of the boot body 30 that spans a bottom of the heel section 53 of the sole portion of the boot body 30 defines a second mounting surface 74. The second mounting surface is suitable for receiving the rear mounting plate 20 of the lower mounting frame abutted against it when fastening the lower mounting frame to the boot body. In an alternate embodiment a rubber pad 75 or materials of the like could be affixed to the surface 74 to function like a gasket to improve the fit and marriage of surface 20 similarly to the pad 71 of the front mounting surface 70.

In the illustrated embodiment, the toe cap 63 forms part of the boot body 30 moulded together with the other elements of the boot body 30 including the forward section 51 of the sole portion 50, the heel section 53 of the sole portion 50, the heel cup portion 62, the ankle portions 64, the first mounting surface 70 and the second mounting surface 74 to form a singular, unitary, monocoque structure.

In further embodiments, the toe cap 63 may be formed separately from the monocoque structure of the boot body 30 and is subsequently attached to the forward ends of the inner and outer side wall portions 56 and 58 and the sole portion 50 by partly overlapping the respective elements of the boot body 30 for bonding therebetween.

The skate boot 10 further includes an upper cuff member 100 formed of a rigid plastic material, for example Hytrel, having a hardness which is less than 72 as measured on the Shore D hardness scale such that the cuff member remains somewhat stiff and rigid, while being more flexible than the boot body. More particularly, the cuff member 100 includes a rear portion 102 overlapping the junction of the two ankle portions 64 at the rear of the boot body above the heel cup portion 62 and two side portions 104 extending forwardly from opposing sides of the rear portion towards respective front edges 106.

The front edges 106 of the upper cuff member are positioned forwardly of the corresponding front edges 66 of the two ankle portions respectively so as to define a forward protruding portion 108 at the forward end of each side portion of the upper cuff member where the upper cuff member protrudes forwardly beyond the front edges 66 of the ankle portions. The top edges of the side portions and the rear portion of the upper cuff member are substantially aligned with corresponding top edges of the ankle portions 64 about the leg opening at the top of the skate boot. The front edges 106 are located to be substantially aligned and continuous with the rear ends of the upper edges 60 of the inner and outer sidewalls. The width of the upper portion of the tongue opening in the skate boot is thus defined between the front edges of the upper cuff member.

At the rear of the skate boot body 30 at the junction between the ankle portions 64, a ledge 110 is formed at the top end of the heel cup portion 62 of the skate boot in which the wall of the skate boot above the ledge 110 is stepped inwardly relative to the heel cup portion below the ledge 110 to form an upward facing shoulder that defines the ledge 110. The ledge at the rear of the skate boot has a thickness corresponding approximately to the thickness of the rear portion of the cuff member 100 such that the bottom edge of the rear portion 102 of the cuff member 100 abuts the ledge 110 when the top edges of the upper cuff member and the ankle portions are aligned with one another. The thickness of the ledge 110 is tapered towards each of the two sides of the skate boot where there is no corresponding ledge. In this manner, the walls of the skate boot are free of any interfering ledge along the bottom edges of the side portions 104 of the upper cuff member.

An adhesive material is used to bond the entirety of the inner surface of the upper cuff member 100 to the ankle portions 64 of the boot body with the exception of the forward protruding portions 108 of the upper cuff member. The adhesive bonding of the rear portion 102 to the boot body 30 together with the support from the ledge 110 therebelow substantially fixes the rear portion of the upper cuff member 100 immovably relative to the boot body at a mounting location which is spaced above the heel end of the sole portion of the boot body and above the heel cup portion of the boot body.

The skate boot further includes a bonding layer in the form of two bonding panels 112, each formed of a flexible, pliable, woven fabric material. The two bonding panels 112 are supported at laterally opposing sides of the skate boot body to overlap the junction between the respective side portions of the upper cuff member and the ankle portions of the boot body below. More particularly, each bonding panel 112 is adhered by suitable adhesive to (i) an exterior surface portion of the ankle portion of the boot body below the exterior junction between the cuff member and the boot body as well as (ii) an exterior surface portion of the cuff member above the junction. Each bonding panel is also wrapped over the front edges of the respective side portions of the cuff member and a rear end portion of the respective upper edges 60 of the inner and outer sidewalls 56 and 58 such that a portion of each bonding panel also overlaps a corresponding interior surface portion of the respective ankle portion of the boot body 30.

The finishing panels of material forming the outer cover 44 are applied with adhesive to the exterior of the boot body so as to also span over the exterior of the bonding panels 112 to conceal the bonding panels. Likewise, the interior liner materials 34 are adhered to the inner surfaces of the boot body 30 to conceal the inner portions of the bonding panels 112 at the interior of the skate boot body. The interior liner materials 34 are stitched to the outer cover 44 along the edges of the tongue opening and the leg opening at the top of the skate boot.

When the skate boot is worn in use and secured about the foot of the user using one or more fastening members such as straps or laces, flexing of the ankle of the user applies force to urge flexing of the side portions of the upper cuff member relative to the rear portion 102 of the upper cuff member so that the adhesive bonding between the side portions 104 of the upper cuff member and the ankle portions of the boot body 30 are intended to break down slightly over time and allow some relative up-and-down movement of the forward protruding portions 108 of the upper cuff member relative to the skate boot body with flexing movement of the ankle of the user. Even with some degree of the breaking down of the adhesive bond between the side portions of the upper cuff member and the ankle portions of the boot body, considerable limits remain in place to limit the amount of flexing movement permitted between the upper cuff member and the boot body 30 so that application of a substantial bending force remains a requirement before allowing the ankle joint to flex. In this manner, the skater is still provided with considerable support to the ankle while permitting some ankle flexion. The support which limits the amount of flexing and how much force is required to flex forward portions of the upper cuff member relative to the skate boot body is provided by (i) remaining adhesive joining the side portions of the cuff member to the boot body, (ii) stiffness of the cuff member which remains fixed immovably to the boot body at the rear portion, (iii) the bonding panels 112, and (iv) the additional layers of the interior liner and outer cover which are secured about the upper cuff member and the body.

The adhesive bonding and additional support by the ledge 110 collectively define a first coupling arrangement at the rear portion of the upper cuff member between the upper cuff member and the skate boot body 30. Meanwhile, the adhesive bonding and the additional support provided by the bonding panels 112 and the additional interior and exterior layers of material joint across the junction of the side portions 104 of the upper cuff member 100 and the ankle portions of the skate boot body collectively define a second coupling arrangement at the side portions of the upper cuff member. The first coupling arrangement has a greater holding force than the second coupling arrangement such that the second coupling arrangement allows greater movement between the side portions of the upper cuff member and the boot body than the amount of movement permitted between the rear portion of the upper cuff member and the boot body by the first coupling arrangement.

In the illustrated embodiment, the outer cover 44 includes a plurality of first finishing panels 114 formed of a first material and one or more second finishing panels 116 formed of a second material in which the first and second panels are joined to one another and span an exterior of the boot to define a substantial portion of the exterior surface of the boot. The first and second panels are formed of different materials having a different aesthetic appearance and different material properties. The first material of the first finishing panels is a durable material that spans a majority of the exterior surface of the skating boot. The second finishing panels 116 are positioned at opposing sides of the boot to span over the bottom edge of the side portions 104 of the upper cuff member 100 corresponding to the exterior junction between the boot body and the cuff member. In this manner any creases of the finishing materials forming the outer cover as a result of the movement between upper cuff member and the boot body at the opposing sides of the boot body are aligned with the second panels 116 formed of the second material.

The second material is able to undergo a greater amount of distortion and deflection before plastic deformation of the material as compared to the first material. More particularly, the second material undergoes less permanent distortion in response to an identical prescribed deflection than the first material. In this manner, a more durable first material can cover the majority of the boot, but a more resilient and less deformable material can span the junction or seam between the sides of the upper cuff member and the boot body to accommodate flexing of the upper cuff member relative to the boot body without cause permanent creases within the second material.

The skate boot is fastened securely about the foot of the user in the usual manner using a fastening member such as laces 120 secured relative to the skate boot and the upper cuff member using fastening anchors including both eyelets 122 and lace hooks 124. The eyelets or lace apertures are provided at evenly spaced apart positions within each of the inner and outer sidewalls along the upper edges 60 thereof. The lace hooks 124 are supported in a row along the front edge 106 of each side portion 104 of the upper cuff member 100.

More particularly, a set of three lace hooks is supported at each side of the upper cuff member by being mounted along a common mounting bar 126 that is mounted externally onto the skate boot over top of the finishing material panels forming the outer cover 44. Each mounting bar 126 is supported on a respective protruding portion 108 of the upper cuff member by being fastened to a pair of embedded anchors 128 which are embedded into the plastic material of the upper cuff member. The embedded anchors 128 are embedded into the plastic material during moulding of the upper cuff member. Each embedded anchor comprises an internally threaded nut arranged for cooperation with a threaded fastener penetrated through a corresponding mounting aperture in the mounting bar 126 to be inserted from the exterior of the skating boot so as to remain externally accessible for replacement as desired. The two embedded anchors at each side portion of the cuff member are vertically spaced apart for alignment with corresponding fasteners mounted through opposing top and bottom ends of the respective mounting bar 126 such that the mounting bar is upright in orientation. The three lace hooks 124 are evenly spaced apart on each mounting bar to receive corresponding portions of the laces hooked thereon.

In further embodiments, other types of fastener anchors such as straps can be used in place of the laces to secure the upper cuff member about the ankle of the user. In this instance, other fastening anchors suitable for anchoring the straps would be coupled to the embedded anchors within the upper cuff member for anchoring the straps relative to the upper cuff member.

The skate boot further includes a tongue member 130 which is intended to fully span the tongue opening in the skating boot in a mounted position. The tongue member is formed of an exterior layer 132, for example a pliable leather or synthetic material, and an interior layer 134 formed of a resilient material which lines the interior of the tongue member opposite the exterior layer 132. A forward end of the tongue member 130 is secured to the top wall 65 of the toe cap 63 of the boot body.

The tongue member 130 includes a stiffener member 136 incorporated therein between the exterior layer 132 and the lining layer 134. The stiffener member is a flat, elongate plate formed of a stiff plastic material which is less bendable than the material forming the exterior and lining layers of the tongue member. The plate forming the stiffener member 136 is wider at a front end portion 138 at the front end of the stiffener member for mounting at the front end of the tongue member and being suited to receive stitching therethrough which secures the tongue member to the upper wall of the toe cap to assist in anchoring the tongue member relative to the boot body 30.

An undercut area is formed below the front end portion 138 of the stiffener member to define a laterally oriented slot which is open forwardly, with a bottom flange 140 being defined below the slot. The dimensions of the slot between the front end portion 138 above and the bottom flange 140 below is suitable for accommodating the rear edge of the top wall 65 of the toe cap inserted therein. The rear or inner end of the slot in this instance defines a shoulder or catch 142 oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the skate boot so as to be suitable for abutment with the rear edge of the toe cap corresponding to the forward boundary of the tongue opening of the skate boot. The engagement of the catch 142 of the stiffener member with the rear edge of the toe cap of the skate boot body 30 ensures that the stiffener member cannot be displaced forwardly relative to the skate boot body. The remainder of the stiffener member extends rearwardly between the layers of the tongue member along a length corresponding to the majority of the length of the lower portion of the tongue opening defined between the upper edges 60 of the inner and outer sidewalls 56 and 58 of the skate boot. The body of the stiffener member is securely bonded between the layers of the tongue member to ensure the layers of the tongue member are similarly prevented from forward bunching relative to the skate boot.

The skate boot 10 further includes a plurality of lace guides protruding from the forward or exterior layer 132 of the tongue member for interaction with the laces to prevent movement or downward bunching of the upper end of the tongue member relative to the skate boot body 30. The lace guides are carried on a base member 144 in the form of a flat, elongate plate of stiff plastic material similar to the stiffener member 136 so as to be less bendable than the exterior and lining layers 132 and 134 of the tongue member. The lace guides and the base member are molded of a common moldable plastic material such that the lace guides and the base member define a continuous, seamless, unitary body.

The base member 144 is similarly bonded between the layers of the tongue member to secure the base member relative to the tongue member. The base member 144 that supports lace guides thereon is spaced upwardly and rearwardly from the forward end of the tongue opening as well as being spaced upwardly and rearwardly from the rear edge of the stiffener member 136 such that the base member 144 extends longitudinally with the tongue opening but at a location which spans a majority of the length of the upper portion of the tongue opening defined between the front edges 106 of the side portions of the upper cuff member in proximity to the top end of the tongue member. In this manner, a majority of the length of the tongue member is stiffened by one of the stiffener member 136 or the base member 144 that supports the lace guides.

The lace guides protrude forwardly from a leading face of the base member 144 to protrude through corresponding openings in the exterior layer 132 of the tongue member such that the lace guides are exposed at the exterior of the skate boot and are supported in protruding relationship relative to the exterior surface of the tongue member for interaction of the lace guides with the laces extending across the tongue opening of the skate boot in a working position.

The lace guides include two upper first lace guides 146 that are laterally spaced apart from one another to define a gap therebetween in the lateral direction which is laterally centred within the tongue opening in a working position. The first lace guides 146 are reduced in thickness in the longitudinal direction of the tongue opening corresponding to a reduction in height from the outer sides towards the inner sides of the first guides which are closest to one another in the lateral direction. In this manner, the first guides are generally triangular in shape while defining a lace receiving channel which is suitably arranged for receiving crisscrossing lace portions in an X shaped pattern therebetween.

The lace guides further include a lower second lace guide 148 which is spaced in the longitudinal direction of the tongue opening below the gap between the first lace guides 146 while being generally laterally centred relative to the tongue opening. The vertical space of the lower lace guide from the upper lace guides, while being laterally centered between the upper lace guides results in a triangular pattern of guides arranged to locate the lace guides vertically and laterally relative to the laces. In this manner a generally laterally oriented lace receiving channel is defined between the second lace guide 148 and each one of the first lace guides 146. These generally laterally oriented lace receiving channels extend upwardly and inwardly towards one another in an inverted V-shaped pattern to receive the lower portions of the crisscrossing lace portions crossing at the gap between the first guides 146. The arrangement of the lace guides 146 and 148 collectively form an arrangement of lace receiving channels that effectively receive lace portions therein that assist in laterally centering the tongue member relative to the tongue opening in addition to preventing downward displacement of the top end of the tongue member relative to the skate boot. The lace guides together with the stiffening provided by the base member 144 and the stiffener member 136 ensure that the tongue member overall is prevented from any considerable displacement or bunching relative to the boot body during use of the skate boot.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein and for use with a lower mounting frame, the figure skating boot comprising: a sole portion extending longitudinally rearward from a toe end of the boot towards a heel end of the boot so as to be arranged to support at least part of the foot of the user thereon; an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween; a heel cup portion comprising an upright wall in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions at the heel end so as to be arranged to receive a heel of the foot of the user therein; two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup, being joined to one another across the heel end of the boot above the heel cup portion, and extending forwardly to respective forward edges which are laterally spaced apart at opposing sides of an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween such that the two ankle portions are arranged to span over respective ankles of the foot of the user; the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions comprising a unitary, monocoque structure integrally formed of a rigid, structural, monocoque material defining a boot body; the boot body having one or more lower mounting surfaces at a bottom side thereof in which the one or more lower mounting surfaces are arranged to support the lower mounting frame mounted thereon; and an upper cuff member comprising: a rear portion coupled in fixed relation to the boot body at the heel end; a pair of side portions extending forwardly from the rear portion at laterally opposing sides of the boot body so as to at least partly overlap the ankle portions respectively; at least one fastening anchor supported on each side portion so as to be arranged to receive a fastening member secured thereon; the upper cuff member being formed of a cuff material which is less rigid than the monocoque material of the boot body.
 2. The skating boot according to claim 1 wherein the monocoque material defining the boot body has a hardness which is greater than 72 on the Shore D hardness scale and the cuff material forming the upper cuff member has a hardness which is less than 72 on the Shore D hardness scale.
 3. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising at least one embedded anchor embedded into the cuff material on each side portion of the upper cuff member, said at least one fastening anchor being coupled to said at least one embedded anchor on each side portion of the upper cuff member.
 4. The skating boot according to claim 1 wherein the side portions of the upper cuff member protrude forwardly beyond the forward edges of the two ankle portions such that the upper portion of the tongue opening is defined between respective forward edges of the side portions of the upper cuff member.
 5. The skating boot according to claim 1 wherein an upper edge of the upper cuff member is aligned with an upper edge of the two ankle portions about an upper leg opening of the boot for receiving a leg of the user therethrough.
 6. The skating boot according to claim 1 wherein the rear portion of the upper cuff member is fixed immovably to the boot body at a location spaced above the heel cup portion of the boot body.
 7. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising adhesive joining at least the side portions of the upper cuff member to the ankle portions of the boot body.
 8. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising a first coupling arrangement joining the rear portion of the upper cuff member to the boot body at the heel end and a second coupling arrangement joining the side portions of the upper cuff member to the ankle portions of the boot body, the second coupling arrangement between the side portions of the upper cuff member and the boot body allowing greater movement than the first coupling arrangement between the rear portion of the upper cuff member and the boot body.
 9. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising a ledge formed at the heel end of the boot body receiving a bottom edge of the upper cuff member abutted thereon.
 10. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising a bonding layer formed of a flexible material spanning across a junction between the upper cuff member, the bonding panel being joined to an exterior surface of the upper cuff member and an exterior surface of at least one of the ankle portions.
 11. The skating boot according to claim 10 wherein the bonding layer comprises two separate bonding panels coupled to the two ankle portions respectively.
 12. The skating boot according to claim 10 wherein the bonding layer extends over the forward edges of the two ankle portions and overlaps respective interior surface portions of the boot body at the two ankle portions.
 13. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of finishing panels formed of an exterior finishing material supported at an exterior of the boot body so as to define an exterior surface of the skating boot; the finishing panels including at least one first finishing panel formed of a first material and at least one second finishing panel formed of a second material; said at least one first finishing panel spanning a majority of the exterior surface of the skating boot; said at least one second finishing panel spanning over an exterior junction between the upper cuff member and the boot body; and the second material undergoing less permanent distortion in response to a prescribed deflection than the first material.
 14. The skating boot according to claim 1 wherein the sole portion includes a forward section arranged to support a forward portion of the foot of the user thereon and a heel section protruding downwardly from the forward section so as to define a heel cavity within the heel section that is open to an interior of the boot body, the skating boot further comprising a heel member received within the heel cavity in the heel section of the boot body so as to be arranged to support a heel of the foot of the user thereon.
 15. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising: a tongue member connected to the boot body at a forward end of the tongue opening so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly towards a top end of the boot while spanning a width of the tongue opening; and a plurality of lace guides protruding forwardly from a leading face of the tongue member so as to define one or more channels arranged to receive laces of the fastening member therethrough so as to anchor the tongue member relative to the laces; the lace guides being joined to a common base member such that the lace guides and the base member define a continuous, seamless, unitary body.
 16. The skating boot according to claim 1 further comprising: a tongue member connected to the boot body at a forward end of the tongue opening so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly towards a top end of the boot while spanning a width of the tongue opening; and a tongue stiffener connected to the tongue member and being formed of a stiffener material which is more resistant to bending than the tongue member; the tongue stiffener extending along a majority of the lower portion of the tongue opening in the skating boot; and the tongue stiffener including a catch formed thereon adjacent a forward end of the tongue stiffener, in which the catch is abutted with the boot body at the forward end of the tongue opening to prevent forward movement of the tongue stiffener relative to the boot body.
 17. A skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein and for use with a lower mounting frame, the figure skating boot comprising: a sole portion extending longitudinally rearward from a toe end of the boot towards a heel end of the boot so as to be arranged to support at least part of the foot of the user thereon; an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween; a heel cup portion comprising an upright wall in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions at the heel end so as to be arranged to receive a heel of the foot of the user therein; two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup, being joined to one another across the heel end of the boot above the heel cup portion, and extending forwardly to respective forward edges which are laterally spaced apart at opposing sides of an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween such that the two ankle portions are arranged to span over respective ankles of the foot of the user; the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions collectively defining a boot body; the boot body having one or more lower mounting surfaces at a bottom side thereof in which the one or more lower mounting surfaces are arranged to support the lower mounting frame mounted thereon; a tongue member connected to the boot body at a forward end of the tongue opening so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly towards a top end of the boot while spanning a width of the tongue opening; and a plurality of lace guides protruding forwardly from a leading face of the tongue member so as to define one or more channels arranged to receive the laces therethrough so as to anchor the tongue member relative to the laces; the lace guides being joined to a common base member connected to the tongue member.
 18. The skating boot according to claim 17 wherein the lace guides are laterally spaced apart from one another and each lace guide is tapered to be reduced in height from an outer side to an inner side of the lace guide in a lateral direction so as to be arranged to receive criss-crossing portions of the laces therebetween.
 19. The skating boot according to claim 17 wherein the lace guides and the base member are molded of a common moldable plastic material such that the lace guides and the base member define a continuous, seamless, unitary body.
 20. The skating boot according to claim 17 wherein the lace guides include two first guides which are laterally spaced apart from one another and a second guide spaced vertically from the first guides in a triangular pattern so as to be arranged to locate the lace guides vertically and laterally relative to the laces.
 21. The skating boot according to claim 17 wherein the base member is elongate and formed of a stiffener material which is more resistant to bending than the tongue member, the base member being connected to the tongue member to extend along part of the tongue opening at a location spaced rearwardly from the forward end of the tongue opening.
 22. A skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein and for use with a lower mounting frame, the figure skating boot comprising: a sole portion extending longitudinally rearward from a toe end of the boot towards a heel end of the boot so as to be arranged to support at least part of the foot of the user thereon; an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween; a heel cup portion comprising an upright wall in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions at the heel end so as to be arranged to receive a heel of the foot of the user therein; two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup, being joined to one another across the heel end of the boot above the heel cup portion, and extending forwardly to respective forward edges which are laterally spaced apart at opposing sides of an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween such that the two ankle portions are arranged to span over respective ankles of the foot of the user; the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions collectively defining a boot body; the boot body having one or more lower mounting surfaces at a bottom side thereof in which the one or more lower mounting surfaces are arranged to support the lower mounting frame mounted thereon; a tongue member connected to the boot body at a forward end of the tongue opening so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly towards a top end of the boot while spanning a width of the tongue opening; and a tongue stiffener connected to the tongue member and being formed of a stiffener material which is more resistant to bending than the tongue member; the tongue stiffener extending along a majority of the lower portion of the tongue opening in the skating boot; and the tongue stiffener including a catch formed thereon adjacent a forward end of the tongue stiffener, in which the catch is abutted with the boot body at the forward end of the tongue opening to prevent forward movement of the tongue stiffener relative to the boot body. 